Food Network doc “Hunger Hits Home” addresses childhood hunger in America

Did you know that more than 16 million children right here in the United States regularly go hungry?

This Saturday, Food Network and Share Our Strength‘s No Kid Hungry campaign team up for the new documentary, Hunger Hits Home, which premieres on the network at 8pm ET/7CT.  Narrated by Oscar-winning actor and national Share Our Strength spokesman Jeff Bridges, the hourlong film takes a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America via the stories of three hardworking American families struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table.

The film also gives firsthand accounts of ongoing efforts to bring this shocking crisis to an end by anti-hunger activists, educators and politicians on the frontlines of the battle — including a determined food pantry founder who makes the battle personal, and an elementary school principal who refuses to let his students go hungry. And most importantly, it provides viewers with the necessary tools to join the fight on national and local levels.

Here are five facts about childhood hunger in the U.S., provided by Share Our Strength:

1. More than 16 million kids in America live in households that stuggle to put food on the table

2. There were also over 16.4 million children in America living in poverty in 2010. That’s almost 1 million more than in 2009.

3. 9.8 Million kids get free or reduced-price breakfast on an average school day, more than ever before … but 10.5 million eligible kids go without.

4. Only 1 in 7 kids who get free or reduced-price school lunches receive summer meals.

5. Almost 45 million Americans used SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) during 2011. Nearly 75 percent of these are in families with children and more than a quarter are in households with seniors or people with disabilities.

• Download a Hunger Hits Home viewer guide here.
• Make a secure online donation to the No Kid Hungry Campaign by clicking here
• Click here for more information on the September 2012 Dine Out For No Kid Hungry Campaign
• Take the No Kid Hungry pledge by clicking here.
• Find out how kids can get involved in the fight here.
• Resources for parents and teachers can be found here.

Hunger Hits Home premieres Saturday, April 14 at 8/7CT on Food Network.

© 2012 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved. 

2 Comments

  1. It has always been my belief that if ” everyone who had something just gave a little then there would never be a person who had nothing” There is no secret recipe or formula to fight hunger we just need to step up and be stewards of one another. That means from small families to large companies. I see all the waste that goes on from day to day and it makes me think we are all on our way to a bad place, if you know what I mean. I also believe that in this day and age we have made it a lot harder to donate food to shelters and pantries. People are very quick to file law suits do to food sicknesses and things of that nature that when it comes to large stores donating their items they tend do think twice and not donate in fear of law suits. I work for a large food market and they donate in every way they can but if they could do more they would. So maybe society need to find a safe way for large companies to do so. This is my daily struggle. I know we can end hunger. We need to just start and remember we all have something to give, our time, our talent, our gifts, our wealth we all have something.

    Peace,
    Anna Gehringer

  2. I have just watched Hunger Hits Home.
    It hits a bit too close to home and is heart breaking to watch
    I must say it is wonderful to see how many are opening their hearts, time and businesses to help those in need but my challenge is the deeper problem. The fraud that I see happening around me in NYC. Especially in the boroughs beyond Manhattan and this is devastating, I see how people are allowed to break the system.
    There are so many immigrants that find a way to get government assistance when they do not need it. In my neighborhood, I have seen many store owners who they themselves use food stamps and receive housing assistance. WHY?
    There are those who are building homes and yet they are also receiving assistance. Why is this situation not focused upon and how does it get rectified?
    The wound of children and families goes deeper then present day economy. It comes from allowing such situations as these to fall through the cracks.

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About Lori Acken 1195 Articles
Lori just hasn't been the same since "thirtysomething" and "Northern Exposure" went off the air.